FRP Bridge Deck Debonding Monitoring Method Using OTDR Technique

A practice of using FRP-wrapped Balsa wood bridge deck system to replace the original steel ones has been pioneered in Louisiana. The newly developed bridge deck system is bonded on the bridge girder, where the debonding issue in the interface is of great consideration. A debonding monitoring method using the common commercial OTDR has been proposed. By using the designed sensor configuration, the event of interface deboning will induce optic power loss in the sensing optic fiber, which is able to be detected by OTDR device. Through the experiment conducted in laboratory, it is found that the proposed method is sensitive to the event of debonding occurrence, and the slip extent can also be identified.